That is true but more sixty's era boys (myself included) saw The Rifleman" than saw "Stagecoach" and were influenced by it.John Wayne had a large loop lever carbine in Stagecoach, 1939, which considerably predates The Rifleman.
Yeah,that's how I see it too. I have one (for a 94 Winchester) hanging on a hook in my shop that will likely stay there for quite a while.IMHO, it's more gimmick than anything.
I recall seeing somewhere that the large loop lever was originally sold to guys that were heading to the Yukon and parts North.
Always made sense to me as a standard lever would be hard to work while wearing bulky mittens.
BSW
It does make sense for cylcling the action with heavy mittens but how about pulling the trigger? Some mittens have slots to allow for a finger to slip out but if the hand is inside a rifle lever it seems just as difficult to operate/fire. Personally I don't know as I haven't tried it( heavy mittens aren't very common in Alabama).Always made sense to me as a standard lever would be hard to work while wearing bulky mittens.
It does make sense for cylcling the action with heavy mittens but how about pulling the trigger? Some mittens have slots to allow for a finger to slip out but if the hand is inside a rifle lever it seems just as difficult to operate/fire. Personally I don't know as I haven't tried it( heavy mittens aren't very common in Alabama).
Owning a lever here, I can say it's more than a gimmick. I won't be twirling my 336 around or any such nonsense, but there are days when i'd love the wider gap to make throwing the lever easier.